Two Bedroom ADU for Family in San Marcos
Roadrunner Road, San Marcos, CA 92078
A family in San Marcos started their ADU journey years before actually getting permits. Why? Because their property included an easement that needed to be ‘vacated’ by the utility so that they could use part of their property. They had to halt their plans for a customized ADU.
But they persisted! And years later, they successfully worked towards a clean title and were ready to revisit the ADU build. But this time? They chose a standard plan and were able to get permits in under 3 months!
Read more about their story: Why One Homeowner Switched from a Custom to Pre-Approved ADU
Floor Plan:
2BR/1BA 28×27 Square
Community:
The San Marcos ADU Guide
SnapADU is proud to have been selected by the City of San Marcos to design their pre-approved ADU plans through a competitive bid process with over two dozen applicants. This recognition highlights our expertise in delivering high-quality, efficient, and fully compliant ADU designs as well as our experience in the city. Read more about pre-approved ADU plans.
One unusual requirement in San Marcos is that ADUs generally cannot be in the front yard (though SB-897 passed Aug 2022 will limit city’s ability to enforce this). They also require a soils report for ADUs >500 sqft. San Marcos allows for digital submissions. Turnaround times at the city are moderate.
Additionally, we have seen San Marcos projects require interaction with the Community Facilities Districts (CFD), which are commonly referred to as Mello-Roos Districts, to finance local public facilities and services. This can add months to the processing time.
What is the CFD process in San Marcos for ADUs?
A CFD is a “community facility district” that residents of the city previously voted on to create the ability for the City to collect “developer impact fees” to cover the cost associated with providing services to the residents. These fees go towards building roads, fire stations, and other public services. Every new development project in San Marcos is subject to the CFD Charge, including ADUs. California state ADU laws do not prohibit the City from assessing CFD charges.
Owners can satisfy the CFD requirement in one of two ways:
1) Vote to annex into the district, which creates a annual assessment with your property taxes (usually $1K-$2K); or
2) Pay a one -time In-Lieu Fee (typically $100K-$200K)
Only the property owners of a property/development vote on this annexation – no neighbors or 3rd parties. The City Council certifies CFD votes 4 times per year. This means that typically 3-4 months will be added to the permitting process.
